Fly casting rod



Jan. 9, 1951 L. D. STONER 2,537,438

FLY CASTING ROD Filed Dec. 16, 1946 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 9, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLY CASTING ROD Lewis D. Stoner, San Francisco, Calif., assigiioi to The R. L. Winston Rod 00., San Francisco, Calif., an association Application December 16 1946, Serial No. 716,490

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to fishing rods and more particularly to fishing rods of the socalled fly and bait-casting type. I

The main object of my invention is to provide an improved fly-casting rod of greater strength and lightness and one in which the action thereof is controlled in a new and novel manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fiy-casting rod of hollow construction in which a plurality of segmental splines are glued together longitudinally and so formed that when 10 considerably more weight than is desired in a completed the rod will have a cavity of varying light fly-casting rod. To remedy this I propose cross sectional area extending longitudinally by my present invention to provide a split cane therethrough to thus determine the active charrod of hollow construction which will have all a t ri ti of th r d, of the advantages of a natural cane rod, both Another object of the invention is to provide with respect to symmetry, balance and action, a fiy-casting rod of hollow construction in which Without its attendant objectionable features. the interior chamber of the rod is varied in cross The action of a fiy-rod in casting is quite comsectional area in a predetermined manner as the plex as the only Weight cast is that of the line tip of the rod is approached. itself. lnthis operation it is a prerequisite that A further object of the invention is to provide the line be fully extended to drop stra g tened a method of manufacturing by which fly-casting on the Wa e o acc plish this the line must rods having any desired strength, degree of fiexie radually p id out from the rod with alternate biiity and action may be produced. casts forward and back so that it is kept fully Other objects and advantages of the invention ext d d u l the st dec d o let it p will be in part evident to those skilled in the art upon the water. Unless upo all back casts the and in part pointed out hereinafter in connection line extends fully in the air, no subsequent cast with the accompanying drawing, wherein there can be made, as the inertia of the line will resist is shown by way of illustration and not of limitathe effort of the caster and thus p v m ti a preferred embodiment thereof, from imparting a sufficient casting velocity to the th drawing; line. For example, when the caster applies a Figure 1 shows a fly-casting rod constructed in casting efiol't against a e thus pp y accordance with the invention and with parts tended the Whole l l be pulled upon and broken out to foreshorten the view, put in motion s a u by his casting efio Figures 2, 3 and4are transverse sectional views Whereas, if e line es kinked or curved taken along the rod shown in Figure 1, at the r Coiled, s casting fi rt W e a y corresponding section indicating lines and look- Wholly lost 1186185513 p d in ing in direction of t arrows, straightening the line; This casting effort must Figure 5 is a, fragmentary perspective iew 2,150 be completed before the inertia 0f the'line, with portions cut away to illustrate the interior 40 n effectively s st the ast r and t us pr v nt onstr ctio of my improved d, the line as a whole or as a unit from having a Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view snow- Sufficient casting ty part d to it. ing a modified form of the invention, and A line thus back east and cast must alternately Figure 7 is an exaggerated sectional view correhave pp y directed applied thereto, sponding to that of Figure 2 of the drawing. 5 to extend it alternately i opposite recti In the us and manufacture of fiy-casting and thus reverse its direction of motion by flowrod and particularly one used in fly-casting ing n a Small p Semi-circle p s tournaments, the action of the rod is a cons' -fl o p as it is u y called, trolling factor, and since it is the purpose of begins a the p of 1Jhe yd d r s ut on th present i ti t provide casting rod the line as the latter straightens. The effect which will give the greatest satisfaction to the resembles the capital letter U; when cast the lay fly-caster and the tournament expert, it is line is fu y extended and St a then as it believed that a brief outline of this characteristic begins its motion in the opposite direction a of the present invention shoul b given prior horizontal U is formed with one limb very short to the more specific description of the structural and the other limb almost the whole length features of the invention. of the line. Now as the cast proceeds the short By the adoption of a natural bamboo cane as limb of th U le s end the 0 8 b horta fishing rod fishermen obtained a tubular strucens in a continuously progressing flow of the ture which technically approached the ultimate curve of the'U along the line, until finally the V lightness and other desirable characteristics, go line flies out straight again. The diameter of but when the art took to the manufacture of fishing rods by splitting the natural bamboo cane and glueing and otherwise securing together splints of this material there was provided a pole which, while of more uniform appearance, did not retain the desirable action characteristics of the natural cane. This is due to the fact that these split bamboo rods were of solid construction and thus while of smaller diameter they were in the main of stiifer construction and of the loop will be largely governed by the degree to which the rod bends while being cast, and how far down on the rod the bend extends. This bending of the rod also enables it to absorb all the shocks from starting and stopping the line in its to-and-fro motions in the back and the forward casts. From this it will be seen that the shape assumed by the bend in the rod, as regards the effectiveness of the rod in transmitting the force of the casters effort into the cast itself, is a matter of great moment. This bend may take the form of a parabolic or a helical curve, or even of a semi-circle, or a composite of all of these various curves.

The matter of providing for the proper curvature to the bend of a rod, and varying that curvature according to the result to be attained in the casting of the line, is an important part of the fly-rod makers art. This is known as the action of the rod, and usually is distinguished as wet-fly action, dry -fly action, distancecast action, and other terms. When applied 'to thevarious rods made for these specific kinds of fly-fishing and casting, the action of a rod may also be defined as Pronounced, Moderate or Medium. Gther modifications of the specific actions may also be obtained by taking into account the following factors: A large diameter fodpifers more resistance to movement in the air than does one of a smaller diameter; a greater local specific gravity or weight in the rod offers more inertia than does a lesser Weight; and a greater stiffness in the rod offers more resistance to flexi'on than does a more flexible rod.

In other words, as will be understood from theabove, 'a determining factor for controlling the curvature 'which'a' rod will take when casting, is its resistance to movement through the air and its weight and flexibility at various points throughout its length. Another. and even more controllin'gfactor in the'action of the'rod resides in its inertia, not only as a whole, bu't'in'each'of several 'zones throughout'its length.

, Heretofore, with rods made of solid cane the above bending development'under casting effort could "only'be' centrolld b'y Varying the diameter and taper of the rod. The specific gravity "of the cross section was invariable, it being solid cane, homogeneous throughou't'the rods length. Air resistance was also an invariable accompaniment at a given 'diame'terand flexibility at any given point was controllable only by diameter. In 'other' words, a solid rod'of a given taper and diameter would have a "definite specific which could not be changed by further external I'nodification in design or'constructio'n.

As distinguished from the prior art rods, the actioni'o'f my improved fluted-liollow'r'od maybe controlled at all pointsin'its length as to stiffness, specific gravity and active cross section, by varying the depth, radius'and shapepf the fluting 'at any point "therealong, 'and thus 'a 'rod may be designed to give any desired casting curvatures and action farmore completely and exactly than can be obtained by any other method or construction. Therefore, with a given weightlimit, the rod manufacturer can produce a larger, stronger andmore flexible ro'd than is possible with solid cane, or other hollow construction. In addition, the relation of weight the length of a rod.

Upon now referring to Figure "l of the drawing,

it will be seen that my improved rod, designated by the numeral 10, comprises a splined shaft II that extends outwardly from a grip i2 and at the butt of the grip I2 there is a suitable reel accom modating mounting 13 of conventional design. With respect to the reel mounting I3 it will of course be understood that the accommodation for a reel may, if desired, be interposed between the shaft I I and the grip l2 as is the customary practice with bait casting rods. The shaft H of the rod is also here shown as provided with conventional line guiding eyelets id and a tip 15. In this showing the shaft H of the rod I0 is of hexagonal form and is composed of six segmental splines of trapezoidal cross-section which when secured together and wound in the conventional manner will produce a hollow rod that will have all the appearance of a solid rod, but with an action and other desirable characteristics which will not become apparent until the rod is taken in hand by a user. I

Reference is made to Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the drawing, for a more detailed description on the novel characteristics of my improved rod. In these showings it will be noted that the 'individ ual splines of the shaft ll, here designated by the numeral I8, are mitered so that when six of these splines'are assembled as shown they will provide a rod of hexagonal form. 'In order 'to provide the rod Ni with the improved action'and other novel characteristics as contemplated by my invention these figures of the drawing also show each of the several splines 16 of the shaft 'H as being routed'out'or'grooved longitudinally along their inner surfaces so as to form what has been referred to as a fluting that extends throughout substantially the entire length of the shaft H. This routing or fluting, designated'by the numeral ll, in Figure 2 of the drawing, is shown as semi-circular in shape, whereas in Figure '3 of the drawing this routing 'or'flu'tin'g, further designated by the numeral I8, is'shown as having substantially elliptical outline, while in Figure 4 of the drawing this routing or fluting, here designated by the numeral I9, is shownas in the form of a narrow groove with parallel side walls. In connection with this showing of the fluting at [1,18 and'lfi, it will be'understood that they all form different zones of one continuous flute that extends throughout theactive parts of the rod l0. Therefore, when the splines i6 are secured together in the manner shown,

they form the outline of'a'chamber or channel having different diameters and/or configurations throughout 'the'length'of the pole 10. In this manner it is possible to vary the 'weight,'flexibility and action of the shaft I! to produce any desired action and type of rod desired. "For example, with the semi-circular'fiuting l1 'atthe base of the rod, where the shaft H is "o'f'l'a'r'ge diameter, there is imparted some flexibility which would not be present if "the splines "H3 were not routed out or fluted in theina'nnr 's1ig- 'gested. At the sarn'eti-me this routing for "fluting I! will reduce the weight of the shaft "H 'to a considerable extent at this point. By the sametoken with'the form of "fluting [1, shown in Figure 3, there will be provided a proportional degree offiexibility and a correspondin reduc- 'tion in weight of the rodwithout at'tnesame time unnecessarily weakening the red at this point as would be the case if the"'s'emi circular fiuting I! of'Figure 2 werecarried 'throlighthis particular portion of the rod. Similarly as the tip ofthe'shaft H is reached it been "found {that while'the. iluting may extend to substan.- tially a corresponding depth and thus provide a wall thickness at the bottom thereof corresponding to the wall thickness at the bottom of the iluti-ngs H- and 1B of Figures 3v and .4 .of the drawing, these latter flutings are made. narrower in. order that the required strength at this Smaller diameter portion of the rod is not lost.

To carry the. above description further, it will be seen that by properly shaping and proportion n the depth of the fiuZti-ngs. 11, I8 and i9 that a Substa tially uniform minimum thickness or the individual, splines id may be obtained throughout the len th of the shaft II. By the t k n, he. d pth and confi uration of the flutin at the points 57, l8 and I9 may be also nronortion d is p ovid for substantially uniorm d pth of s in ng urface etween th ad? jacent splines [6 at their mitered edgfis. In a like man er f di m t r of the fintings ii. 1.8 and i9 is reduced there may be provided a r ter thic ness f he sp nes is immediately ad a nt h i ni tared ed es so t a n :efiect lib o b r d d a se i s of lon ud na y ext .Qf lb? drawin s. Which in addition to providing ro 2, wide glueing surface will also impart additional stillness to the pole where desired.

vWhen a fi tingsuch as is indicated in Figures 1 tional views have been taken the fluting will have a configuration and/or shape which will vary fl m one to the other extreme in a gradual rnahner and not by any abrupt change in the shape; thereof. Instead'of having these, definite variations in configuration it will be understood that these fiutings may be formed of the same general configuration but of varying dimension Width n dar in s. they. pro r alone.- the length of the rod. In extremely long rods the flutings may taper away to a point where the individual splines at the tip end of the rod will have no fluting at all.

WhileI have in the previous figures of the drawing described and shown my invention as embodied in a rod of the unjointed type, it will be understood that the rod may be formed in several lengths which can be assembled in the conventional manner. With such a rod as shown in Figure 6 of the drawing, the sections or separable lengths will be equipped with a telescoping plug and socket fixture of conventional design. In this showing a length of rod 2! of larger cross section is shown as having a socket forming fitting 22 into which a plug forming fitting 23 carried by a smaller length of rod 24 may be fitted in telescoping relation. In this showing the fiutings of the length or" the rod 21, designated by the numeral 25, terminate at a point 25 which is short of the ends of the splines which go to make up this length and in like manner the length of the rod 24 is provided with flutings 27 which terminate at a point 23 which is short of the ends or" the several splines which go to make up this latter length of the rod. With this construction the fitting carrying ends of the lengths 2i and 2d of the rod will be of solid construction and therefore lend themselves to a more firm mounting of the telescoping fittings 22 and 23 thereupon.

In order to explain the operation of my rod ending ribs 2?}, as is more clearly shown in '6 comparison will be made with the action which takes place in a so-called solid rod constructed of several splines and in which no internal flutings are provided. With such a rod it will be seen that when bent the curvature of the in dividual splines will be subjected to longitudinal and transverse stresses. For example, the outer spline in the curvature of the rod will be sub jected to a stretching action while the innermost spline will be subjected to compression. At the same. time, if it is assumed that the flexing takes place in the plane of two opposite flat surfaces. of the rod the side splines willbe stretched or compressed to a lesser degree than will be the outer and innermost splines of the rod and at the same time the glued surfaces between the several splines will be subjected to a shearing action which if carried to the breaking" point will actually splinter the rod along these joints. As distinguished from this, when a rod is made up with the fluting and the resulting chamber or cavity extending completely therethrough, as contemplated by this invention, it will be seen that. when the rod is subjected to a corresponding flexing the uppermost. spline while subjected to a stretching action and the innermost: spline while subjected to a compressive strain will because of their modified cross sectional areas also be subjected to a transverse stress. In other words, as is diagrammatically illustrated in Figure a. stretching of the uppermost spline in the curvature will tend to transversely bow this spline inwardly from itsnormal outer plane and at the same time the splines at the sides of" the rod will be. caused to. bow outwardly between the glued surfaces at the sides, thereof until the cross section of the rod will tend to take a shape somewhat corresponding to the cross sectionhere illustrated in an extremely exaggerated manner. The action which takes place will be somewhat similar to that which would be found in the bending of a tubular metallic rod. Under these conditionsv each of the splines: will be subjected to internal stresses that will act as a spring and store up energy which will have a tendency to return the individual splines to their normal shape and relation to each other immediately upon a release of any force which may be applied to efiect a bending of the rod. In addition to relieving the top and bottom splines of excessive breaking stresses the transversely bowing of the side splines will also react upon the top and bottom splines of the rod and cause it to assume its normal unbent condition immediately upon a loss of the applied bending stresses and as a result the actual resilience and action of the rod will be increased to such an extent that the casting accuracy and distance attained by a user will be greatly increased.

While I have, for the sake of clearness and in order to disclose the invention so that the same can be readily understood, described and illustrated specific devices and arrangements, I desire to have it understood that this invention is not limited to the specific means disclosed, but may be embodied in other ways that will suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art. It is believed that this invention is new and all such changes as come within the scope of the appended claims are to be considered as part of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A split bamboo fiy-casting rod, comprising a plurality of splines of trapezoidal cross-section joined together in coextending relation to form a hollow rod of polygonal form, characterized by the fact that each of said trapezoidal splines is provided with a centrally disposed longitudinally extending flute upon its inner surface, and the flute carried by each of said splines being of increasing depth relative to its width as the tip of the rod is approached.

2. A split bamboo fly-casting rod of tapering polygonal cross-section, comprising a plurality of splines of trapezoidal cross-section joined together in coextending relation to form a hollow rod, and characterized by the fact that the interior surface forming side of each of said splines is provided with a single longitudinally extending flute of non-uniformly varying width and depth throughout the length of the rod.

3. A fly-casting rod, comprising six splines of tapered trapezoidal cross-section secured together in coextending relation to form a hollow hexagonal rod, and characterized by the fact that the interior surface forming sides of each of said splines is routed out to different depths and widths to provide a groove having different configurations throughout the length of said rod to thereby produce a desired balance and action at different points along the rod without varying the external dimensions thereof.

4. The method of controlling the action of a split bamboo fly-casting rod, which comprises forming a rod of a plurality of segmental splines of trapezoidal cross-section, and varying the active cross-sectional area of said splines at different points throughout the length of the rod by cutting a continuous flute of non-uniformly varying width and depth upon the inner side of each of said splines throughout the active length of the rod.

5. The improvement for controlling the action of a hollow fly-casting rod formed of a plurality of segmental splines of trapezoidal cross-section glued together in the conventional manner, which comprises a plurality of splines of trapezoidal cross-section each having a longitudinally extending groove formed along the inner sides thereof, and in which the width and depth of said longitudinally extending grooves of said splines vary non-uniformly with respect to the uniformly varying outer dimensions of the rod to thus produce zones of desired stiffness, specific gravity and active cross-section at definite points along the length of the rod substantially as described.

6. The improvement in the manufacture of fly-casting rods for controlling the stiffness, specific gravity and active cross-section of a flycasting rod at different points throughout its length in a non-uniform manner with respect to the uniformly varying outer dimensions of the rod, which comprises forming the fiy-casting rod of segmental splines in which the apex of each of said segmental splines is cut off from a spline of trapezoidal cross-section, grooving the inner surface of each of said trapezoidal splines to provide a centrally disposed longitudinally extending flute of non-uniformly varying width and depth throughout the length of each of said splines, and finally gluing said splines together in the conventional manner to complete the rod.

LEWIS D. STONER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'IhiNTS Number Name Date Re. 18,365 Anderson Mar. 1, 1932 330,572 Edwards Nov. 17, 1885 1,293,208 Ryan Feb. 4, 1919 1,524,322 Stolley Jan. 27, 1925 1,748,223 Herris Feb. 25, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 885,678 France of 1943 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,537,488 January 9, 1951 LEWIS D. STONER It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 8, line 19, for the word from read to form;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of March, A. D. 1951.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Gommz'sgz'oner of Patents. 

